A new round of meetings also depends in part on whether the Palestinians can complete the formation of a new government in the coming days.

Quraya, who currently leads an emergency government with a one-month mandate, has until Tuesday to form a full cabinet.

On Friday, Israeli media reported that Defence Minister Shaul Mofaz also planned to hold meetings next week with Palestinian officials.

Meanwhile, legislators from Arafat's Fatah faction met Saturday in Ram Allah and chose a top Fatah official as their candidate to be parliament speaker, a position Quraya left vacant when he became prime minister.

The nominee, Rafiq al-Natchi, a former ambassador to Saudi Arabia and former labour minister, was the most likely candidate to become the new speaker.